Chapter 3: A New Profession

Everyone stood in shock for a moment, watching the girl in the bright red dress stumbling for the door. Jarvis Malone sprang to action first, as he bolted after her, "Callie! You'd better stop if you value your life!"

She burst into the night.

Jimmy started after her, his hand resting on his gun. Kid stepped in front of his friend and put his hands on Jimmy's chest. Jimmy was thrown off balance and stumbled backwards. He soon started forward again, only to have Kid block his path a second time.

They locked eyes, blue and brown, both fierce.

"Kid," Jimmy warned, his square jaw tightly clenched, "Move aside!"

"Jimmy, you are getting in the middle of something you ain't got no business stepping into!" Kid growled, not budging.

They stood toe to toe, glaring at each other a second longer.

"I'm not going to ask you again Kid. Now, get out of my way, or I'll make you!"

"Jimmy..." Kid began.

Jimmy wouldn't hear him out. With a quick shove, Jimmy pushed Kid, who stumbled backwards over his chair and crashed to the floor.

"You're a damn fool!" Kid cried after him, scrambling to his feet in the hope he could keep his friend from getting himself or the girl hurt.

Jimmy paid him no heed and charged into the night.


Jarvis caught Callie just as she reached the bottom stairs of the saloon porch. He grabbed her arm, his fingers clutching the material of her sleeve. It tore easily as she continued to try to run. As even more of her pale shoulder was exposed, she slowed down, giving Jarvis the chance to wrap his hands around her already sore upper arms.

"You bitch!" He screamed at her, "How dare you embarrass me in front of my friends!"

Callie, in a flash of bravado snapped back at him, "Me! You are the one who dressed me up like a whore and then stood me on the stage for all the world to look on! You deserve it!"

"You are a whore!" Jarvis told her, "Starting tonight!"

"No! I told you I'd never do that!" She screamed, struggling to get away again.

"Stand still, damn it!" Jarvis warned her. When she continued fighting, he brought a hand across her cheek. When that still did not curb her struggle, he began shaking her violently. She cried out as her neck snapped back and forth, and she bit her lip during the forceful display. From out of nowhere, a blur appeared over her left shoulder and hit Jarvis at full tilt, knocking him away from her.

Callie cried out as she fell backwards and landed in a pool of crimson fabric with an unladylike "oomph!"

Soon gentle hands were reaching down and gently grasping her arms, pulling her to her feet.

"Miss, are you all right?" A quiet voice asked.

Callie spun around and met the eyes of the young man who had helped her earlier that day.

"I-I'm fine..." Callie stuttered, her head still reeling from Jarvis' rough handling. She could still taste warm, salty blood from where she'd bitten her lip. She turned toward Jarvis, who was now pinned by his attacker, and finally understood that Jarvis had been knocked away from her by another man.

That man stood up quickly, dragging Jarvis with him by the lapels of his now-dusty jacket. He turned around and Callie studied him. He was an older man with long silver hair and a ridiculous black hat. His face was covered in stubble, and his body had grown soft with years spent out of the saddle. His eyes, however, were alive and piercing. When he looked at her with those eyes, Callie felt a blush rise in her cheeks, as if he knew everything about her in that one glance, "Miss, are you all right?" He asked with a gravelly voice, giving Jarvis a hard shake when he tried to pull away. "Damn it, you stay still or we'll spare the expense of a trial!"

Callie nodded, and wordlessly pulled the torn sleeve of her gown up over her shoulder. It instantly slid off again.

"Teaspoon, he roughed her up pretty badly," Jimmy began, and Callie glanced at him quickly, her eyebrows furrowed in disapproval.

"It wasn't bad," she said softly, "I'm fine." The trembling of her voice suggested otherwise.

Jarvis smiled, knowing the girl was trying to regain his favor, was asking him for forgiveness. She wouldn't have it that easily.

"From the looks of you, I'd guess differently, Miss," Teaspoon said softly, and Callie met his eyes. For all his hardness, she knew him to be a good-hearted man, much like the younger man that had called him "Teaspoon" and seemed determined to protect her. He dug in his pocket and handed her a handkerchief. "Your lip is bleeding, Miss."

"Just a little disagreement, Marshal," Jarvis drawled, and he smiled when he saw Callie stiffen and take note of the silver star on Teaspoon Hunter's shirt. The handkerchief she'd taken went forgotten in her hand as she starred at the badge.

That's right, my dear. Don't start thinking of running to this old fool for help! He thought.

Callie quickly nodded in agreement with Jarvis' description of the situation, and Teaspoon noticed she was avoiding his eyes and keeping her head turned away from him. She finally said, "it's all right, sir. Thank you for your concern. It was a misunderstanding is all."

"What I saw was not all right!" Teaspoon thundered, loudly enough so that the crowd that had gathered on the porch could hear, "And Jarvis, you're spending the night in jail! You ain't gonna disturb the peace like that and beat up on this girl and then go back to your party! I've warned you about beating up on these women before!"

Jarvis turned a bright shade of red in shame and fury for being so insulted in front of all his important friends. Callie closed her eyes, not even able to imagine his wrath when he got back. She knew he would not turn her in--not yet. Not until after he made her pay for what she'd done to him tonight. Escape was out of the question. Jarvis' henchmen would guard her more closely tonight than usual.

She shivered slightly as she thought of his return the next day. She wanted to plead with the Marshal to let Jarvis go, but knew it would be to no avail.

Teaspoon didn't miss the tremor that seized the girl and turned to the younger man. "Jimmy," he instructed, keeping a tight hold of Jarvis, "show this lady to her room please."

Kid came down the stairs to stand by Teaspoon. "Kid, you stay here and make sure all these fine folks clear out and go home. Party is over, gentlemen! Saloon's closing for the night!"

Callie closed her eyes in disbelief. Not only would Jarvis punish her for her performance, for his confinement, but she'd also have the sin of losing a night's worth of business to atone for.

Teaspoon began hauling Jarvis toward the jail.

Callie didn't wait on Jimmy to start back for her room. She nearly bolted up the stairs of the porch. The remaining customers scattered to let her pass, and Jimmy didn't catch up with her until she was inside the building.

"I suppose you're mad about that too?" Jimmy wondered as he fell into step beside her.

She glanced at him, and anger rose in his throat when he saw her bleeding lip.

She sighed, too weary for anger. "No one seems to understand that these little acts of heroism only serve to make things much harder on me once you fools ride off into the sunset!"

"So why don't you leave?" Jimmy wondered.

"This is really none of your concern," Callie shot back at him as she began taking the stairs two at a time, obviously ready to be rid of him. His long stride kept up with her easily.

"You just don't belong here," Jimmy said softly, "You're a lady."

She paused mid-stair and stared at him, not able to hide the sudden tears that sprang to her eyes. He was the only man she'd come into contact with that cared who or what she was. He looked troubled to have caused her tears and for a moment was speechless and awkward, unsure of what to do about the tears.

Callie regained her composure and started toward her room, wanting to put distance between her and this man with the gentle way about him. She had the feeling that he, like the marshal, could see straight to her heart, and that was something she didn't dare let happen. She hardly dared to look there herself.

"I don't understand why you are here, Miss Sullivan!"

She closed her eyes and bowed her head, glad that he was slightly behind her so he couldn't see the fresh tears that stung her eyes, "I don't suppose you do understand, being a damn fool."

The words wounded him, she knew, and she was truly sorry for having hurt him. However, letting him get close to her would be a thousand times more hurtful...and more dangerous to both of them! For all she knew he could be as corrupt and repulsive as Jarvis or the Senator! She'd been fooled by men before. She vowed not to be so foolish again.

She paused outside her room and fumbled with the lock and key.

He came to lean against the frame in front of her. He watched her steadily. Under his piercing gaze her hands fumbled and she dropped the key. She let out an exasperated sigh of frustration.

They both reached for it at the same time, and their heads crashed together.

"I'm sorry!" Jimmy exclaimed, placing a hand to his aching temple.

She had her eyes closed and her arched eyebrows wrinkled in pain. To Jimmy's surprise, the slightest of smiles creased her mouth as she opened her thundercloud eyes slightly to squint at him. "I'm not going to survive your nobility much longer."

Jimmy waved the key they'd injured themselves retrieving and said, "Better let me do it! Stand back!"

She stood back and watched as he opened the door, doing her best to hide her widening smile but failing miserably. She didn't look at him as she let herself in. He stood there wordlessly, watching to see that she got all the way in safely before he considered budging.

She started to slam the door in his face, but something in his probing eyes stopped her and she looked at him, trying to figure him out. What was his motive, what was his interest in her?

"You aren't a damn fool," She said quickly, as if she was in a hurry to have the apology over with.

"Thank you...I think," Jimmy grinned, knowing fully well how she must hate to swallow her pride. He grew solemn as he watched her face fall, and her eyes slide away from his. The next words out of her mouth were even harder for her to say. As she drew a deep breath, Jimmy waited patiently, wondering what she was going to tell him.

"I just wanted you to know...that I'm not..." She swallowed hard and looked into his eyes fully, leaving Jimmy feeling short of breath, "I'm not a wh-whore."

She watched as his face broke into the easiest of smiles. "Miss Sullivan, you didn't need to tell me that. I know you're a lady," Jimmy looked away from her eyes for a moment, then let his gaze find hers again, "And nothing could ever convince me otherwise."

Her eyes dropped doubtfully, and Jimmy suppressed the urge to push her for an explanation of how she'd ended up here. Something told him that gaining her trust would have to be done slowly or not at all. Instead he bent down to catch her eyes, which were staring at the floor. His willful stare made her raise her eyes and look at him fully.

"Nothing could change my mind," He repeated, leaving no doubt in her mind that he meant what he said, "Good night, Miss Sullivan." As an afterthought he added, "I ride for the pony express and stay at the station in Rock Creek. You let me know if I can help you, Miss."

He tipped his black hat and stepped away from the door, leaving her there with tears in her eyes.


"Rider Comin!" Rachel's voice called into the bunkhouse, "Buck, your ride!"

Buck leapt up from his bunk and ran outside to vault on the horse Kid had waiting for him.

"Ride Safe, Buck!" Lou called as she extended the mochila to him and pulled Lightning up.

"Hey Kid!" She said with a wide smile as she slid off the horse and into his waiting arms.

"Have a good ride?"

"Yeah, it is pretty quiet out there. So, have I missed anything here?"

Kid raised his eyebrows and took her horse's reins. As they began walking to the barn to care for him together, Kid told her, "well, Jimmy's head over heels for some wildcat Southern girl working in the saloon! The girl's got all kind of problems and doesn't want anything to do with Jimmy, but he just ain't gonna give up!"

Lou sighed. Jimmy just didn't seem destined to have much luck with love. Her cheeks flamed as she remembered how he'd kissed her a few weeks ago when they'd taken Alias Mills in for hanging. She turned an even deeper red when she remembered how she'd kissed him back, and how her pulse had raced. Her feelings for Jimmy had never been simple, but his refusal to discuss the matter with her had left her confused, and perhaps a little stung.

Lou sighed and looked up at Kid. While her feeling about Jimmy were complicated and inexplicable, her feelings for Kid were and always had been, very, very simple. She loved him and had from nearly the beginning. She'd loved first his goodness and his gentleness and the absolute certainty she'd had that he would never do a thing to hurt her. As time went on, she grew to love his sense of duty and his protectiveness, and his courage and heart.

Lou smiled at him, feeling tender towards both of these men who were so much a part of her life. "Why do I have a feeling you and Jimmy already have, or will have, a disagreement over this girl?"

"What makes you think that, Lou?" Kid asked in his most innocent tone.

That gave him away, "Well, I was right! You already have, haven't you? Come on, Kid, you go through this every time Jimmy falls in love! He plunges into things! He doesn't have to calculate every move like you do! He acts with his heart, not his head, and yes, it's gotten him into trouble in the past, but it is his way Kid."

Kid wondered if there was a trace of disappointment in her voice. She and Jimmy were a lot alike, he realized. They loved the same way. Suddenly Lou stood on her toes and placed a gentle kiss at the corner of his mouth.

"But I wouldn't have you any other way!"

Jimmy watched the scene between Kid and Lou from the bunkhouse window with envy. However, for the first time, seeing Lou didn't bring a stab of longing into his heart. He knew it was pure folly that Callie occupied his every thought, but he couldn't help it. Having finished his chores for the day, Jimmy decided to visit the saloon.

He walked through town, his mind filled with the image of her staring at him, a slight blush on her cheeks and tears in her eyes as she tried to make him understand that she wasn't a whore. Everything in him wanted to protect her--and he recognized those feelings as ones he had had for all the women he'd loved--Lou, Emma, Sarah, and Alice. In the end, they hadn't wanted or needed his protection--or the ghosts that dogged him had made him more of a danger to them than any other enemy.

"Where you heading to, son?" Teaspoon's voice called him from inside the Marshal's office.

Jimmy stepped inside, gesturing vaguely down the street. "Uh, I just thought I'd go get those supplies you been wanting from Tompkin's store, Teaspoon."

"And after that?" Teaspoon wondered knowingly.

"Well, I thought I might stop by the saloon."

"Jimmy, I want you to listen to me. You don't need to cause trouble for that girl! I know you want to help her, but you'll probably just make it worse on her if you keep hounding her. If she needs our help, she'll have to ask."

"She ain't gonna ask, Teaspoon. She's too proud, or too scared, or both!"

Teaspoon shrugged. "Well then, she's gonna have to get over that!"

Jimmy rolled his eyes. "I know, I know, you can't help people that won't help themselves," he said, repeating one of Teaspoon's favorite pieces of advice.

Teaspoon shrugged, "It's God's truth, son."

Jimmy sighed, "I know it is. But it sure seems like she needs help, don't it?"

Teaspoon nodded, and watched as the young man started out of the office.

"Where you going?" He repeated.

"Told you. To buy those supplies and then to the saloon!"

Teaspoon shook his head, wondering if Jimmy had listened to a word he'd said. Just then Jesse came flying through the jail at full tilt, and ran smack into Teaspoon. They both almost fell to the floor.

"Jesse! What have I told you about galloping around in here?" Teaspoon growled. When he glanced back at the door, Jimmy had disappeared.

"Why do I bother?" Teaspoon sighed, and glared at Jesse, who had the good sense to look sheepish before making himself scarce.


Callie walked slowly and sorely over to the table in the corner. Why the man had to sit so far removed from everyone else, with his back to the wall, was beyond her.

Jarvis had given her the beating of her life when he'd returned from jail that morning. She'd still been asleep when he burst into her room and started hitting her. He'd left her face alone, she realized bitterly, because he was afraid he'd cause some sort of disfigurement that would take away from her money-making looks. Her ribs and back and legs were already turning a kaleidoscope of greens and purples.

"May I get you something?" She asked the man, who had his head tilted down lazily.

He looked up and Callie's eyes widened. It was Jimmy, the man who had seen her display of weakness the night before. He'd hidden himself from her because he'd correctly assumed she wouldn't come over to him if she'd known who it was.

"What do you want?" She snapped impatiently, "I'm growing weary of these games!"

"I want to know what you're doing here," Jimmy said simply.

"I meant to drink," She hissed.

When he didn't answer her, Callie started to walk away, rolling her eyes. Jimmy didn't miss the stiff way she carried herself and guessed Jarvis had a lot to do with that.

"Sarsaparilla," he suddenly called out.

She turned around and glared at him, then walked back over to him and leaned close to him, her face only inches from his. Her violet eyes were cold and her voice contemptuous, "Get it yourself, Wild Bill!"

His jaw tightened in irritation at her as she sauntered away. Why the woman had to be so cold to everyone he couldn't imagine, but he was growing tired of it. He didn't know how or when she'd figured out who he was, but the hated name Marcus had given him was more of an insult than usual coming from her.

"There's just something to be said for Southern charm!" He cried out after her, and got up to go to the bar to get the drink himself.

It turned out to be lucky he did.

He watched as Jarvis pulled Callie over to the other end of the bar, where a tall, lean businessman waited. He heard her hushed, but violent protests and Jarvis' sharp reprimand.

Jimmy was able to hear every word of the conversation that followed.

"Callie, this is Jacob Harris. Why don't you be a good girl and keep him company?" Jarvis asked her, though it was no doubt an order and a threat, not a request.

She met his eyes defiantly, "Oh, I would, but I have tables to see to!" She started to breeze away.

Jarvis grabbed her arm with brute force again and slung her back against the bar, "My dear, someone else will see to your tables!"

Callie grimaced in pain as he stormed away.

Jacob Harris, a well-known banker, turned and studied the girl as if she were a horse at auction. Callie's cheeks flamed at his openly lustful appraisal. "Well, my dear, let's get better aquatinted. What would you like to talk about?"

Callie's stomach turned. She glanced down at the man's hand and her eyes narrowed as she saw his wedding band. "Why don't we talk about your wife?" She said sweetly, but loudly enough for the whole bar to hear, "How would she feel about you being here?"

"Who do you think you are!" Harris gasped, and reached to lace his hands around her abused arms, "You need to learn your place!"

"And you need to learn yours! Your place is in bed with your wife, not me!"

With that, Callie grabbed the half-full shot of whiskey sitting in front of him and threw it in his face. He cried in pain and clawed at his eyes as the stinging alcohol burned them. She turned to storm away, head high. She visibly shrank as she saw Jarvis heading straight towards her with murder in his eyes.

He grabbed her by the hair and snapped her neck back, forcing her to look him in the eye, "You're about to learn your place, Callie! You're about to learn it with certainty." Keeping a firm hold of her hair, and avoiding her flailing arms, Jarvis began half-dragging her toward the stairs.

Suddenly, Jimmy stood directly in front of him, blocking his path.

Callie felt a wave of relief wash over her, though she didn't like to admit it.

"Get out of my way, Hickok!" Jarvis growled, "There's nothing you can do to help her now!"

"I have a business proposition for you!" Jimmy insisted, and watched as Jarvis arched his eyebrows in interest. Callie looked at him worriedly.

"You don't make enough money to have a proposition worth my while!"

"There are other ways to make money off the pony express trail!" Jimmy reminded him, "And I've got forty-five dollars right here to prove it!"

Jarvis' eyes nearly popped out of his head. Forty-five dollars to take a girl upstairs? It was an unheard of amount! And too good to pass up! Still, Jarvis played it cool, "And why should I agree to this?"

Callie's forehead wrinkled in confusion. She didn't understand what was happening, yet had a feeling it was very important that she did understand. She tried very, very hard to forget the fact that Jarvis had her by her hair and had her bent back like a bow, and focus on what was transpiring between these two men.

"Because she'll probably kill you! I'm willing to take that risk," Jimmy smiled widely and extended the money to Jarvis.

Jarvis thrust Callie forward, and she stumbled into Jimmy's chest. He instantly wound his hands around her wrists, and while his hold was not as brutal as Jarvis', it was just as confining. She could not pull her arms free.

"What's going on?" She asked, looking first at Jarvis, then up at Jimmy.

Jarvis smiled, "Say hello to your first customer, Callie, and treat him nicely!"

Callie looked up at Jimmy, and his eyes were unreadable, his demeanor cold. She'd known he was interested in her, but hadn't thought him this kind of man. Once again, she'd been foolish to let herself believe someone was interested in helping her!

"Let's go, Callie!" Jimmy told her harshly, while Jarvis smiled and stepped back, tipping his hat to her. "Enjoy yourself, Callie," he murmured as Jimmy led her away.

And suddenly she understood what was happening. Her young hero had just bought her, and she had no say in the matter at all. Callie's screams were ear splitting as Jimmy began dragging her toward the stairs, with her fighting him every inch of the way.